Flash light bottom cap



Jan. 10, 1933. BARBER 1,894,147

FLASH LIGHT BOTTOM CAP Filed Dec. 20, 1928 Patented Jan. 10, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE H. BARBER, OF NEW ROCHELLE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO BOND ELECTRIC CORPORATION, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE FLASH LIGHT BOTTOM car Application filed December 20, 1928.

This invention relates to flashlights and more particularly to a bottom cap therefor of the kind having a suspension ring or hanger whereby the flashlight may be suspended from a hook on the wall or from the belt or a button on the. person. I

It has heretofore been proposed to provide flashlight bottom caps with split ring hangers hinged thereon in such fashion that the hanger, when in inoperative position, was retained inwardly of the plane of the bottom surface of the cap, as within a depression therein, so that the flashlight could he stood on end and used as a source of light in the 115 manner of a candle. The resiliency of the metal of such ring hanger has been relied upon to retain its ends within the hinge or pivot member. With such construction, when the flashlight was suspended, say, from the belt, the ring could be twisted out of. the

hinge and the flashlight fall, sometimes injuring the flashlight and breaking the filament in the lamp.

One object of the present invention is the provision of a flashlight bottom cap with ring hanger whereof the receiving space for the ring can be conveniently and readily formed and presents a pleasing appearance. Accordingly, the hanger is adapted to be disposed, when in inoperative position, within a transverse groove, preferably rectangular in outline and extending, conveniently, diametrically across the cap. Such a groove can be easily pressed into the bottom surface of the cap and its corners cleaned out by-a simple bufling operation.

A further object of the invention is the prevention of the separation of the hanger from the bottom cap, or the hinge member thereon,

in a positive manner. To this end, a hinge member for the hanger is disposed within the groove and the hanger is formed of a rod or wire bent to substantially rectangular shape with its juxtaposed ends within the hinge member so that the walls of the groove prevent the separation of the ends of the hanger and retain them against withdrawal from the hinge member.

The invention also seeks to retain the ring in inoperative position in a manner to per- Serial No. 327,217.

mit its convenient release when desired for use. To this end, shoulders or ledges are formed on the side walls of the groove, under which the ring snaps when in inopera tive position and, preferably, the ledges are disposed relatively near its pivot so that sufficient leverage is afforded to permit the disengagement of the ring with a minimum of effort, as by the insertion of a finger nail under the free end.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a simple and readily attached hinge member. The hinge member is secured within a slot in the bottom of the groove. The hinge member may be made by forming a metal plate or sheet to have the general cross sectional shape of the Greek letter omega and the longitudinal edges may then be passed through the slot to clamp the cylindrical portion against the bottom of the groove.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a bottom cap with ring hanger which is practical from the standpoint of ease and cheapness of manufacture and convenience and durability in use.

These and other objects of the invention and the means for their attainment willbe more apparent from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing illustrating one embodiment by which the invention may be realized, and in which:

Figure 1 is a view, in side elevation, of a flashlight provided with a bottom cap in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 shows the end of the bottom cap with the ring hanger folded in the groove.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line t4 of Figure 2130 show the hinge member for the ring hanger.

Figure 5 is a view showing a modification in which the ring hanger is pivoted in the walls of the groove.

In Figure 1 there is illustrated a conventional form of flashlight wherein a cylindrical casing 1 containing the battery is provided at each end with threaded collars 2. The 100 collar 2, at one end, receives a threaded hood 3 enclosing the lens 4 and the reflector and lampfnot shown, andthe collar 2 at the other end receives a bottom,;cap indicated generally 5 at 10. While a cylindrical flashlight is illustrated it is to be understood that the invention is applicable to any shape or character of electric flashlight or hand lamp or in any other situation in which a ring hanger is requireda; 7 r r The bottom cap 10 is formed with a flat bottom surface 11 so that the flashlight may be stood on end on that surface and, when the hood collar 3 is removed, together with 1 1 the lens and reflector, the flashlight may be used as asource of light in the manner of a candle.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the bottom surface 11 of the cap is formed with a transverse groove 12 preferably extending diametricall across the cap and being pressed inward y from the bottom 11 to about the beginning of the bead 13 which extends periphera lly about the bottom cap 10. This groove 12 is thus defined by parallel chords forming the upper edges 14 0;? the side walls 16 of the groove so that the two surfaces 11 upon which the flashlight stands have the general form of segments, of a circle. The groove 12 is very readily formed in the bottom cap 10Qb'y a simple pressing operation and can then be'quickly and easily cleaned even in its corners .15 by a buflin wheel to present a clean and attractive polished appearance.

Within the groove and preferably wholly inwardly of the surface 11, as shown in Figures l'through 4, there isdisposed a'ring hanger 18. This hanger is of generally reetan lar form and is made by bending a cylindrical rod or wire so that its two ends 19 are juxtaposed midway of one of its shorter sides as shown in Figure 2. This ring hanger 18 is pivotally mounted in a hinge member 20-21 in the groove. The hinge member 2021 is formed by taking a rectangular sheet or plate of metal and bending it into the form, in cross section, of the Greek letter omega. The cylindrical part 20 receives the ends 19 of the ring 18 and the edge portions 21 are passed through a transverse slot 23 made in the bottomof the groove 12, preferably adjacent one end thereof. The hinge member 20-21 is secured in lace by bending the edge portions 21 away om one another as shown in Figured to clamp the, cylindrical portion 20 against the bottom of the groove 12. The ring is thus secured within the groove and the ends 19 are prevented from withdrawal out of. the cylindrical portion 20 of the hinge member 2021 by reason of thefact that the side Walls 16 of the groove serve as abutments for the ionger sides of'the ring. q

In the modification shown in Figure 5, the

ends of the rectangular ring hanger 30 are turned upwardly as at 31: and are received within apertures 32 formed in the walls of the groove 12. The same degree of movement through 180 is permitted by this method of pivotin the hanger, but the inherent resillency o the hanger is depended upon to retain the ends 31 in their bearings 32.

To releasably retain the hanger 18 in in- Y5 operative position within the groove, ledges 24 are provided under which the ring may snap. These ledges 24 are preferably formed upon oppositesides of the groove in the edges 14. The ledges 24 are illustrated nearer the hinge than the outer end of the ring, while the outer'end of the ring lies proximate the edge of the head 13 so that considerable leverage is afforded to permit the ring to be forced past the ledges, say, by the insertion of the finger nail between the end of the ring 18 and the head 13.

It will be observed that the ring hanger 18 is capable of movement through 180 and thus can be readily used for engagement with a hook on a wall to permit the flashlight to be suspended therefrom; The ring 18 is also convenient for hanging from the belt, the shape of the ring being particularly adapted H to receive a belt. The ring 18 and, if desired, the hinge 20-21 may be disposed wholly belovg the plane of the bottom surface 11 so as not to interfere with the equilibrium of the flashlight when stood on end. The ring is also protected against accidental dislodgment from the groove, as for instance when the flashlight is carried in the pocket.

Various modifications will occur to those skilled in the art in the disposition and pro- M portions of the groove and in the shape of the ring therein as well as in the manner of pivoting the hanger on the bottom cap and no limitation is intended by the phraseology of the foregoing description or illustrations M in the accompanying drawing except as indicated in the appended claims.

What I claim is: g

1. A flashlight bottom cap having a bottom surface formed with a rectilinear single 'wide groove with substantiali'y straight sides extending diametrically through the bottom surface of the end of the cap without obstructions, and a hanger substantially as wide as the groove pivoted within the groove and lying below the bottom surface.

2. A flashlight bottom cap having a plane bottom surface formed with a single wide rectilinear groove extending entirely across the cap from side to side thereof, and without obstructions, and an insertable hanger pivoted within the groove at one end thereof and having outwardly extended pivots projecting into recesses in the side walls of the groove, the hanger extending to the. other end thereof.

3. A flashlight bottom cap having a generally circular and flat bottom surface formed with a single wide groove without obstructions and with substantially straight sides extending diametrically across the bottom surface from side to side of the end of the cap whereby the ends are open, the sides of the groove and the peripheral surface of the circular bottom cap meeting at a relatively acute angle, said acute angle being such that the intersecting walls at points in the plane of the hinge perforation being relatively closely adjacent one another, hinge perforations through the side wall of the groove adjacent the vertex of the acute angle, a rectangular hanger fitting into the groove and below the bottom surface, and pivots upon the hanger extending outwardly to be inserted into the hinge perforations.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

GEORGE H. BAR-BER. 

